CORONA, CA -- AVT Inc. said it has signed up several of its large customers as licensees of its patented wireless vending control systems, and has begun bringing other manufacturers and operators into compliance through licensing arrangements.

AVT's Patent No. 8,191,779 was recently upheld and found enforceable by the U.S. Patent Office. It covers 19 uses, including cashless transactions conducted by a vending machine through a wireless system. | SEE STORY

The Corona, CA, vending technology company claims that 200,000 machines are infringing on its patent and are candidates for licensing. AVT reached this figure based on estimates that 5.5 million vending machines are in use across the United States, and that 3.7% of them are equipped for cashless payment.

AVT chief executive James Winsor said the company plans on bringing into compliance most of the 200,000-plus machines, if not all, that it estimates are infringing.

"We are in the process of offering a license to use our technology to the larger companies in this industry," he said. "We have already signed up several major vending operators and are confident that this trend will continue."